Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15
A generous person goes the extra mile. Motivated by love, he or she does more than is required by the law.
When you become a Christian, God puts the Spirit of Jesus in you. God does this to empower you for a life that mirrors what we see in the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus.
Be generous by reproducing the example that God has given to you in Christ. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep (12:15). If you are going to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, that means you have to get close to other people. It is simply not possible for you to obey this command if you remain in your own private world, at a distance from others.
These verses point to an implicit temptation. We are tempted to remain aloof, to be detached from others, to keep to ourselves. You might say, “Well, I’m a very private person.” Remember that God calls you to be a very loving person, but in order to be a loving person you have to find ways to get close enough to other people to feel their pain and to share their joy.
Whose pain are you feeling right now? Whose joy are you sharing in?
